Sparking device for explosive-engines.



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D Afl M W. E. HAYDEE. SEAEKING DEVICE EOE EXELosIVE ENGINESn APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9, 1905.

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM B. HAYDEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SPARKING DEVICE FOR EXPLOSlVE-ENGINES.

To a/ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. HAYDEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Sparking Devices for Explosive-Engines, of which the following is aspecication.

This invention relates to electrical sparking devices for explosive-engines, and particularly to that form of igniter in which a succession of sparks is produced each time an explosion takes place in the cylinder of the engine. i

In explosive-engines as now generally constructed many difliculties are met with in producing an ignition-spark within the cylinder with certainty at the proper time. For the purpose of producing the ignition-spark two systems are now in general use. One of these systems is termed a make-and-break or Contact spark Within the cylinder and the other of these systems is termed the jumpspark. In employing the make-and-break or contact spark system it requires certain mechanical construction on each cylinder to break the contact, such mechanical construction generally being complicated, expensive, and uncertain, as only one spark or contact is made at each revolution of the engine. So if scale, soot, or any foreign matter between the contact-points prevents a spark a full revolution is required to repeat the contact. Such full revolution is called skipping a stroke and is a serious fault. There are some very important advantages in this system, however, in that the battery or primary current is used direct, obtaining a hotter spark, with wires lightly insulated and not liable to short-circuit. In the jump-spark system the employment of the same does away with mechanical devices on the cylinder, simplifies and cheapens the engine construction, but meets with greater difficulties in the application and control of the electrical current required, there being no contact-points within the cylinder but space to overcome. A secondary or induced current is required for the jump-spark system involving complicated electrical apparatus, greater and more perfect insulation, and greater battery-power to produce the same results, owing to loss of energy in the primary current to produce the current necessary in the secondary circuit. Now an electrical sparking device constructed in accordq Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 9, 1905. Serial No. 240.262.

Patented Dec. 5, 1905.

yance with this invention combines all the advantages of the two systems heretofore referred to, as well as eliminating the objections of the said systems, said electrical sparking device in accordance with this invention producing a multiple contact-spark within the cylinder, using the primary current direct, with no mechanical devices in the construction of the engine on each cylinder, as hereto' fore, obtaining a continuous and unusually hot spark for ignition, less liability to loss of current by imperfect insulation, and more certain in operation.

Primarily the invention resides in constructing an electrical sparking device for eXplosive-engines which shall be extremely simple in its construction, readily positioned, eflicient in use and operation, strong, durable, obtaining a multiple spark for each explosion, easily set up in operative position, requiring no complicated wiring, compact, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form apart of this specification, and wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention; but it is to be understood that changes, variations, and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, wherein llike reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in Which- Figure l is a side elevation of an electrical sparking device for explosive-engines constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the sectional plug, the latter being an element of the device. Fig. 3 is a view of a vibratory electrode, the rock-shaft therefor, the bushing acting as a bearing for one end of the rockshaft, and the armature of the electromagnet; and Fig. 4 is a diagrammatical view showing the application of a sparking device constructed in accordance with this invention.

An electrical device for explosive-engines constructed in accordance with this invention IOCI comprises a sectional hollow plug open at one end and closed at its other, and the sections into the combustion-chamber of the engine and coperate with the vibratory electrode to be hereinafter referred to, said vibratory electrode also projecting into the combustionchamber of the engine. The other end of the section 1 is formed with a plurality of pivoted ears or lugs 6 for a purpose to be hereinafter referred to. The section 2 of the plug has its outer end closed and its other end open, and said section is also hollow and provided with apertured lugs or protuberances 7 of the same contour as the apertured ears or lugs 6. The section 2 is adapted to be secured with the section 1 through the medium of the holdfast devices 8, extending through the apertured lugs 6 and 7. Interposed between the sections 1 2, as well as clamped in such position through the medium of the holdfast devices 8, is an insulating medium 9 for the purpose of insulating the section 2 from the section 1. Any suitable form of insulation for this purpose may be employed. If desired, the closed end of the section 2 may be provided with an opening closed by means of ascrewplug 10. By such an arrangement access to the interior of the plug can be had for any purpose, if occasion requires. Although the sections 1 and 2 are shown provided with apertured ears or lugs whichreceive holdfast devices for connecting said sections with one another, yet any other suitable means for this purpose can be employed.

The reference character 11 denotes an electromagnetic device which is suspended in close proximity to the closed end of the section 2 of the plug. Said device is suspended through the medium of an upwardly-extending arm 12, which may be separate from the section 2 of the plug or formed integral therewith. As shown, it is a separate element, and it is connected to the section 2 through the medium of the holdfast devices 13, extending through the lateral protuberance 14, carried on the lower end of the arm and engaging in the section 2 of the plug. The upper end of the arm 12 terminates in a cross-piece 15, through which extends the suspension devices 16 for retaining the electromagnetic device in position, said suspension devices 16, being connected with said electromagnetic device in any suitable manner. The cross-piece 15 is provided with a binding-post 17 for the circuit-wire 18, the latter communicating with a source of electrical supply, as indicated by the reference character 19. From the binding-post 17 leads the wire 20 to the electromagnetic Adevice 11, and from the electromagnetic device 11 leads a wire 21 to a binding-post 22, carried by the arm 12.

The reference character 23 denotes the armature of the electromagnetic device, and said armature 23 will be hereinafter more specifically referred t0.

The vibratory electrode consists of an elongated arm 24, split at one end, through which extends a contact-point 25, preferably constructed of platinum and coporatingwith the contact-point 5. The arm 24 extends from a point in the section 2 of the plug through the section 1 of the plug, is arranged within the said sections sothat it will not contact with either of them, and has its other end adjustably secured, as at 24', to a rock-shaft 26, having a bearing at one end in one side of the section 2 of the plug and at its other end in a bushing 26', engaging in the other side of the section 2 of the plug. Said rock-shaft 26 projects from one side of said section 2 and on the projecting portion thereof has fixed thereto an arm 27, carrying the armature 23. The armature 23 is retained normally away from the core of the electromagnetic device 11 through the medium of a pulling-spring 28, which is secured at one end to the section 2 of the plug and at its other end carries an adjustable screw 29, which engages in the arm 27, the action of the spring 28 being suoli that it normally retains the armature 23 from the core of the magnet and causes contact-points 5 and 25 to be normally in engagement with one another. The tension of the spring 28 is regulated through the medium of the screw 29.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings is shown the arrangement of a sparking device in operative relation with respect to an explosive-engine, and this connection 30 denotes the sparking device; 31, the cylinder of the engine, into which extends the sparking device 30; 18, one of the circuit-wire connections; 19, the electrical supply, and 33 a circuit-wire connection between a timing device 34 and the electrical supply 19.

It is thought that the operation of the sparking device can be understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings; but it will be stated that when the electromagnetic device is energized the armature 23 will be attracted, consequently separating the contact-points 5 and 25 and creating a spark. When the armature 23 is attracted, the movement of the arm 24 will be a vibratory one, consequently creating at the contact-point what is termed aj multiple spark. Then the contact-points 5 and 25 are separated, the electromagnetic device 11 will be denergized, and consequently the spring 28 will come into play and IOO IIO

pull the armature 23 to its normal position, consequently closing the circuit again, as the contact-points 5 and 25 will then abut. The foregoing `operation can be had as often as is required. The travel of the circuit is as follows: from the supply 19, over wire 18 to the magnetic device 11, from there to the arm 12, section 2 of the plug, rock-shaft 26, arm 24, contact-point 25, contact-point 5, protuberance 4, section 1 of the plug, engine-bed, timing device 34, and from there to the electrical supply 19 through the medium of a wire connection 33. The intermittent contacting of the contacts 5 and 25 keeps them free from scale, soot, or other foreign substances, insuring thereby perfect metallic connection and,

certainty of ignition.

Having thus fully described my invention, what l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An electrical sparking device for explosive-engines, consisting of a hollow plug provided with a fixed electrode, a rock-shaft extending laterally through said plug and projecting from one side thereof, a vibratory electrode fixed to said rock-shaft and coperating with said fixed electrode, an armature fixed to said rock-shaft, a magnet cooperating with the armature, means carried b v the plug and connected with the armature for retaining it normally away from the magnet and for normally retaining the two electrodes in contact, and circuit-forming means cooperating with the magnet and said fixed electrode.

2. An electrical sparking device for explosive-engines, consisting of a hollow plug provided with a fixed electrode, a rock-shaft extending laterally through said plug and projecting from one side thereof, a vibratory electrode fixed to said rock-shaft and cooperating with said fixed electrode, an armature fixed to said rock-shaft, a magnet cooperating with the armature, means carried vby the plug and connected with the armature for retaining it normally away from the magnet and for normally retaining the two electrodes in contact, means carried by said plug for suspending the magnet, and circuitforming means cooperating with the magnet and said fixed electrode.

3. An electrical sparking device for explosive-engines comprising a sectional hollow plug, one of said sections being open from end to end and provided with an electrode, the other of said sections being closed at its outer end, means interposed between the seci tions for insulating them from one another, means for connecting the sections together, a rock-shaft mounted in the closed section of said plug, a movable electrode carried by said rock-shaft, an armature carried by said shaft and arranged exteriorly of said closed section, a magnet arranged in close proximity to said closed section and cooperating with said armature, means carried by the closed section and connected with the armature for normally retaining it away from the core of the magnet, and circuit-forming means cooperating with said magnet and said fixed electrode.

4. An electrical sparking device for explosive-engines, comprising a hollow plug closed at its outer end, means for insulating one portion of said plug from another portion thereof, an electrode arranged in operative relation with respect to said plug, a rock-shaft fulcrumed within the plug and projecting from one side thereof, an electrode within the plug, fixed to saidshaft and having its free end arranged in operative relation with respect to the first -mentioned electrode, an armature connected to the projecting end of said shaft, a magnet, means carried by the plug for normally retaining the armature free of the magnet, and circuit-forming means cooperating with the magnet and the first-mentioned electrode.

5. An electrical sparking device for explosive-engines, comprising a hollow plug provided with a fixed electrode, a rock-shaft extending laterally through said plug and projecting from one side thereof, a vibratory electrode fixed to said shaft and cooperatingv with said fixed electrode, an armature fixed to the rock-shaft, a magnet cooperating with the armature, and means carried by the plug and connected with the armature for retaining it normally away from the magnet for normally retaining the two electrodes in contact.

6. An electrical sparking device for explosive-engines, comprising a hollow plug closed at one end and having its other end adapted to open into the combustion-chamber of the engine, said plug provided with a fixed electrode, a rock-shaft extending laterally through said plug at a point removed from the heat of explosion and projecting from one side of the plug, a vibratory electrode fixed to said shaft and extending through the nonexplosive gases in the plug and cooperating with said fixed electrode, an armature fixed to the rockshaft, a magnet cooperating with the armature, means carried by the plug and connected with the armature for retaining it normally away from the magnet for normally retaining the two electrodes in contact, and circuit-forming means cooperating with the magnet and said electrodes.

7. An electrical sparking'device for explosive-engines, comprising a hollow plug closed at its outer end having its other end opening into the combustion-chamber of the engine, said plug provided with a fixed electrode, a

laterally-extending rock-shaft supported bysaid plug at a point in proximity to the-closed end thereof, a vibratory electrode fixed at one end to said shaft and cooperating with said fixed electrode, a magnet, an armature carried by the rock-shaft and cooperating vwith the IOO IIO

magnet, means Carried ley tlle plug and conmy hand in p'resenc'e oftWo subserbng Wt= neoted with the armature for normally retainnesses. ing it away from the magnet, thereby normally keeping the tWo electrodes in Contact, WILLIAM B HAYDEN 5 and circuit-forming means eoperating with W'itnesses'z the magnet and said electrodes. CoTToN ALLEN HAYDEN;

In testlmony whereof I have hereunto set CALVIN BURR 

